Connection Arrangement for a Trailer Vehicle and Trailer Vehicle

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a connection arrangement for a trailer vehicle and to a trailer vehicle. The connection arrangement ( 1   a   , 1   b   , 1   c   , 1   d ) according to the invention for a trailer vehicle ( 14   a,    14   b   , 14   c ) comprises at least two connections ( 2, 3, 4, 5 ) of the following connections ( 2, 3, 4, 5 ) suitable for connecting on the tractor side: a) a first electrical connection ( 2 ) for a brake system ( 25 ); b) a second electrical connection ( 3 ) for a lighting system, c) a first pneumatic connection ( 4 ) for a brake line, d) a second pneumatic connection ( 5 ) for a reservoir line, and at least two lines ( 9, 10 ) for connecting one connection ( 2, 3, 4, 5 ) each to a trailer-side component, wherein the at least two lines ( 9, 10 ) are consolidated into a common cable harness ( 22 ) at least in sections.

The present invention generally relates to embodiments of a connection arrangement for a trailer vehicle, and also to a trailer vehicle that has such a connection arrangement.

Trailer vehicles are generally known. Trailer vehicles are used, in particular, for heavy goods vehicles, for example as semi-trailers for a semi-trailer truck or as a trailer. In this case, trailer vehicles for heavy goods vehicles have a large number of trailer-end components, for example a lighting system or a brake system. In order to control such components from a towing vehicle and to supply compressed air and power to such components, it is known to provide the trailer vehicle with a connection arrangement. A connection arrangement usually comprises a plurality of connections which are suitable for a towing vehicle-end connection and a plurality of lines for connecting the connections to the trailer-end components. In this case, a trailer vehicle for a heavy goods vehicle usually has the following connections: a) a first electrical connection for a brake system, b) a second electrical connection for a lighting system, c) a first pneumatic connection for a brake line, d) a second pneumatic connection for a supply line, wherein the brake line and the supply line are associated with the brake system.

The connections are generally arranged on the end face of the trailer vehicle in order to be able to establish a simple connection to the towing vehicle. In order to equip a trailer vehicle with a connection arrangement of this kind, it is customary to first mount the connections on a chassis which forms part of the trailer vehicle. The lines are then individually laid from a connection to the respective trailer-end component which is associated with the connection.

The object of the present invention is to provide a connection arrangement for a trailer, vehicle, which connection arrangement can be mounted on a trailer vehicle with comparatively little mounting work. A further object of the invention is to provide a trailer vehicle which has a connection arrangement of this kind.

These objects are achieved by a connection arrangement and a trailer vehicle as claimed in the independent claims.

The dependent claims relate to advantageous developments.

The connection arrangement, according to the invention, for a trailer vehicle comprises at least two connections of the following connections which are suitable for a towing vehicle-end connection: a) a first electrical connection for a brake system, b) a second electrical connection for a lighting system, c) a first pneumatic connection for a brake line, d) a second pneumatic connection for a supply line, and at least two lines for connecting in each case one connection to a trailer-end component, wherein the at least two lines are combined, at least in sections, to form a common cable harness.

By combining lines to form a common cable harness, the mounting work for laying the lines can be reduced compared to laying the lines separately. In particular, the lines can be combined, at least in sections, to form a common cable harness even before the connection arrangement is mounted on a trailer vehicle, this additionally reducing the mounting work.

The lines can be formed, for example, by cables, tubes or hoses depending on the medium which is to be transmitted. In particular, one line can comprise a plurality of individual lines. For example, the line which connects the first electrical connection to a trailer-end brake system can have a plurality of individual lines for supplying power and for data transmission.

The cable harness preferably extends, starting from the end face of the trailer vehicle, at least into the rear half of the trailer vehicle, preferably into the rear region of the trailer.

The lines are preferably combined to form a cable harness by means of at least one holding means, for example a cable tie, a clip or a sheath, such as a hose, or alternatively are combined in a cohesive manner by means of an adhesive, for example by encapsulation with plastic. If the connection arrangement additionally comprises a housing on which at least two connections are arranged and/or at least two connections are at least partially formed by the housing, the lines which are associated with the connections can already be combined to form a common cable harness within the housing.

The invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments which are schematically illustrated by several figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a trailer vehicle according to the invention which comprises a first embodiment of a connection arrangement according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows the connection arrangement according to the first embodiment on its own,

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a connection arrangement according to the invention,

FIG. 4 shows a detail of a cable harness,

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of a trailer vehicle according to the invention, and

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of a trailer vehicle according to the invention with a fourth embodiment of a connection arrangement.

Identical components or components which correspond to one another are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a trailer vehicle 14 a which comprises a first embodiment of a connection arrangement 1 a. The connection arrangement 1 a is shown on its own in FIG. 2.

The connection arrangement 1 a comprises four connections 2, 3, 4, 5 which are provided for a towing vehicle-end connection of components of the trailer, in this case an electronic brake system 25 and a lighting system having rear lights 15 and side lights 16. From amongst the four connections 2, 3, 4, 5, a first electrical connection 2 is provided and accordingly suitably designed for the brake system 25, a second electrical connection 3 is provided and accordingly suitably designed for the lighting system, a first pneumatic connection 4 is provided and accordingly suitably designed for a brake line, and a second pneumatic connection 5 is provided and accordingly suitably designed for a supply line, wherein the brake line and supply line are associated with the brake system 25.

The connections 2, 3, 4, 5 are arranged on a towing vehicle-end front face 7 of a box-like housing 6 a. The housing 6 a is produced from plastic in this case. A housing composed of metal, for example sheet metal, would also optionally be possible. The housing 6 a is closed off at its rear end 12 by a housing cover 13 a. The connections 2, 3, which are in the form of plug receptacles in accordance with ISO 12098 and ISO 763813 coupling heads 4, 5 in this case, are at least partially formed by the housing 6 a or are fixed to fixing means which are formed by the housing 6 a. In this case, plug receptacle housings of the electrical connections 2, 3 are injection-molded onto the housing 6 a. Furthermore, threaded pins are integrally formed on the housing 6 a, the coupling heads 4, 5 being screwed onto said threaded pins (not illustrated in the figures).

A line 10 leads from each of the pneumatic connections 4, 5 to the electronic brake system 25. Furthermore, a line 9 likewise leads from the first electrical connection 2 to the electronic brake system 25. The electronic brake system 25 is known per se and is illustrated only symbolically in FIG. 1. The electronic brake system 25 can have, in particular, a plurality of components which, in turn, can be connected to one another by means of cables and/or other lines. A further line 9 leads from the second electrical connection 5 to a lighting system, in this case to rear lights 15 and side lights 16 of the trailer vehicle.

The lines 10 are designed to transmit compressed air and the lines 9 are designed to transmit power and data signals.

The lines 9, 10 are connected to the associated connections 2, 3, 4, 5 in the interior of the housing 6 a. The lines 9, 10 are led out of the housing 6 a via a leadthrough 8. In this case, the leadthrough 8 is formed in such a way that the interior of the housing 6 a is sealed off from the outside, in particular against the ingress of moisture. As an alternative, a plurality of leadthroughs 8 can be provided in order to lead the lines 9, 10 out of the housing 6 a.

Starting from within the interior of the housing 6 a and as far as into the rear half of the trailer vehicle 14 a, the lines 9, 10 are combined to form a common cable harness 22. The combination process is performed using a plurality of holding means 19, in this case cable ties. By way of example, clips or sheaths, such as hoses, would also optionally be possible. In this case, a holding means 19 is arranged in the interior of the housing 6 a. The cable harness 22 is separated in the second half of the trailer vehicle, the lines 9, 10 running separately to the brake system 25 and to the lighting system.

For the purpose of mounting a connection arrangement la of this kind, a plurality of holes 17 are provided in the rear face of the housing 6 a, it being possible for the housing 6 a to be fixed to an end-face support 26 of a chassis of the trailer vehicle 14 a by means of screw connections via said holes. In this case, the lines 9, 10 are combined to form a cable harness 22 before the connection arrangement 1 a is actually mounted on the trailer vehicle 14 a. As an alternative, the lines 9, 10 can also be combined to form a cable harness 22 during mounting of the connection arrangement 1 a on the trailer vehicle 14 a.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a connection arrangement 1 b according to the invention. The second connection arrangement 1 b corresponds substantially to the first connection arrangement 1 a, and for this reason only the differences are discussed in the text which follows.

Instead of a leadthrough 8, the second connection arrangement 1 b has an output connection 11 which is arranged on a rear-face housing cover 13 b of a housing 6 b which otherwise corresponds to the housing 6 a. As an alternative, it is also possible, for example, to provide a plurality of output connections 11. In this case, the output connection 11 is in the form of a plug receptacle, wherein the plug receptacle housing of the output connection 11 is integrally formed on the housing cover 13. The lines 9, 10 which enter the interior of the housing 6 b from the rear face of the connections 2, 3, 4, 5 are led to the output connection 11. A cable harness in the interior of the housing 6 b is not formed. The connection arrangement lb comprises a connection means 23, in this case a plug 23, which can be connected to the output connection 11. From the connection means 23, the lines 9, 10 are led further to the brake system 25 and to the lighting system in accordance with the first embodiment 1 b. In this case, in accordance with the first embodiment 1 a, a plurality of holding means 19 are provided, said holding means being combined to form a cable harness 22 starting just behind the connection means 23.

The second connection arrangement 1 b makes it possible for the connections 2, 3, 4, 5 and the lines 9, 10 or at least a portion of the lines 9, 10 to be mounted on a trailer vehicle 14 separately. After the connections 2, 3, 4, 5 are separately mounted and the lines 9, 10 are laid, these elements can be connected to the connection means 23 by connection of the output connection 11. The lines 9, 10 can be combined, at least in sections, to form a cable harness 22, in particular before being laid in a trailer vehicle.

FIG. 4 shows a further possible way of combining the lines 9, 10 to form a cable harness 22. In this exemplary embodiment, the lines are combined in a cohesive manner by means of an adhesive 20. In this case, the adhesive 20 is formed by a plastic with which the lines 9, 10 are encapsulated in portions. One of the lines, in this case a line 9, has a plurality of coupling means 21 for coupling the at least one line 9 to trailer-end components. In this exemplary embodiment, the coupling means 21 are sockets for a plug connector. The coupling means 21 are coupled directly to the cable harness 22. Coupling means 21 of this kind make it possible to connect a further line to one or more points of the cable harness 22. It is advantageous, firstly, for it to be possible to connect a plurality of trailer-end components to the same line, but also for it to be possible to select, for a connection of a trailer-end component, the coupling means 21 which is located in the position which is suitable for a connection. The latter is particularly relevant when the trailer-end components which are to be connected are located at different positions from case to case. As an alternative, as is likewise shown in FIG. 4, a line, in this case a line 10, can also be led out of the plastic casing 20 without interruption, for example via an opening 24.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of a trailer vehicle 14 c with a third embodiment of a connection arrangement 1 c. In contrast to the previous embodiments, only first and second electrical connections 2, 3 are arranged on a housing 6 c. The first and second pneumatic connections 4, 5 are mounted directed on the trailer vehicle 14 c, in this case on a chassis of the trailer vehicle 14 c. In the interior of the housing 6 c, the lines 9 departing from the electrical connections 2, 3 are combined to form a cable harness 22 by means of a holding means 19. Outside the housing, the cable harness 22 is extended by a further combination with the pneumatic lines 10 which depart from the pneumatic connections 4, 5.

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of a trailer vehicle 14 d with a fourth embodiment of a connection arrangement 1 d. In this embodiment, both the electrical connections 2, 3 and the pneumatic connections 4, 5 are connected directly to the trailer vehicle 14 d, in this case to a chassis of the trailer vehicle 14 d. The lines 9, 10 departing from the respective connections 2, 3, 4, 5 are combined to form a cable harness 22 by holding means 19.

The connection arrangement is not restricted to said connections 2, 3, 4, 5. Further connections can be provided, for example connections which take into consideration other standards, or a connection for a brake light power supply means. In addition, lines which depart from such connections and also other lines can be accommodated in the cable harness. 

1. A connection arrangement (1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d) for a trailer vehicle (14 a, 14 c, 14 d), comprising at least two connections (2, 3, 4, 5) of the following connections (2, 3, 4, 5) which are suitable for a towing vehicle-end connection: a) a first electrical connection (2) for a brake system (25), b) a second electrical connection (3) for a lighting system, c) a first pneumatic connection (4) for a brake line, d) a second pneumatic connection (5) for a supply line, and at least two lines (9, 10) for connecting in each case one connection (2, 3, 4, 5) to a trailer-end component, wherein the at least two lines (9, 10) are combined, at least in sections, to form a common cable harness (22).
 2. The connection arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lines (9, 10) are, combined by means of at least one holding means (19).
 3. The connection arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the holding means (19) comprises at least a cable tie, a clip and/or a sheath, for example a hose.
 4. The connection arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the lines are combined in a cohesive manner by means of an adhesive (20).
 5. The connection arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one line (9) has one or more coupling means (21) for coupling the at least one line (9) to trailer-end components, wherein the coupling means (21) is arranged on the cable harness (22).
 6. The connection arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, additionally comprising a housing (6 a, 6 b, 6 c), wherein the at least two connections (2, 3, 4, 5) are arranged on the housing (6 a, 6 b, 6 c) and/or are at least partially formed by the housing (6 a, 6 b, 6 c).
 7. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (6 a, 6 c) has one or more leadthroughs (8) for leading through the lines (9, 10).
 8. The arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least two lines (9, 10) are led through the leadthrough (8) in the form of a cable harness (22).
 9. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (6 b) has one or more output connections (11) for the trailer vehicle-end connection of the connection arrangement (1 b).
 10. The arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least two lines depart from the output connection (11) in the form of a cable harness (22).
 11. The arrangement as claimed in one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the at least one leadthrough (8) or the at least one output connection (11) is arranged on a housing cover (13 a, 13 b) of the housing (6 a, 6 b) and/or is at least partially formed by said housing cover.
 12. The arrangement as claimed in one of claims 6 to 11, wherein the at least two lines (9, 10) are combined to form a cable harness (22) outside the housing (6 a, 6 b, 6 c) or outside and inside the housing (6 a).
 13. A trailer vehicle (14), comprising a connection arrangement (1 a, 1 c, 1 d) as claimed in one of the preceding claims. 